Namibia dump out Tanzania, Kenya ease past South Sudan to second round
COSAFA Women's Championship winners Tanzania have been eliminated by Namibia from TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2022 qualifier after 3-2 defeat on Saturday.
The Twiga Stars were smarting from a 2-1 loss suffered no thanks to Zenatha Coleman's brace at National Stadium, Dar Es Salaam three days ago.
Poised for an away win, they showed resilience to overturn the one-goal deficit and gained an early lead courtesy of Omari Mwanahamis in the 13th minute at Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg, the adopted home ground of Namibia.
However, Bakari Shime's side early lead's celebration was short-lived when Coleman levelled eight minutes later before the Sevilla striker bagged her second to put the hosts in front in the 21st minute
Two minutes before the break, red-hot Spain based forward notched her stunning hat-trick of the match in the space of 22 minutes to increase the Brave Gladiators' advantage over Tanzania.
After the recess, Clement Oppah pulled one back for Tanzanians in the 58th minute but her effort was not enough to rescue her side from crashing out at the expense of Namibia.
The away and home triumphs inspired by Coleman's five goals in two games saw Brave Gladiators through the second round via a 5-3 aggregate scoreline. They will square up with either Malawi or Zambia in the second round of the Women's AFCON qualifying series.
South Sudan 1-7 Kenya
In Nairobi, Kenya recorded heavy double triumphs after thrashing hosts South Sudan 7-1 and progressed to the second round on a 15-1 goal aggregate on Saturday, October 23.
Neddy Atieno's five, Jentrix Shikangwa's brace plus Mwanalima Adam's strike condemned the Sudanese to an 8-0 first leg defeat at the Nyayo National Stadium last Wednesday, October 20.
At the same venue, the Bright Starlets held their own in the opening half hour till Adam broke the deadlock from the spot in the 37th minute and doubled for Kenya on the brink of half time.
On return from recess, the Harambee Starlets continued business with Janet Bundi's 48th minute strike before Skiangwa double in the 67th and 73rd minute of the contest.
However, Josephine Nyibol grabbed the consolation for Shilene Booysen's side in the 81st minute before Lydia Akoth and Neddy Atieno completed the rout for the Kenyans.
With their progression, Kenya will face off with the aggregate winner between Uganda and Ethiopia on Sunday, in the second round next February for a ticket at the continent's showpiece.